However now OnePlus appears to have topped its efforts with the newly launched OnePlus Nord 4, which not solely matches the competitors with its Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset, AMOLED show and 50MP OIS digicam, but in addition beats them in some respects with its distinctive AI options, 6 years of software program assist and a large 5,500mAh battery, all at a beginning worth of ₹29,999.
However whereas the Nord 4 seems to be, on paper no less than, like a formidable machine, does it have what it takes to face out within the very crowded sub- ₹30,000 worth section? Nicely, I used the Nord 4 for about 10 days and this is my detailed assessment of the machine.
Unboxing and Design:
Contained in the Nord 4 field you get the machine itself, a purple colored Kind A to Kind C cable, a SIM ejector device, a 100W adapter, a clear case and a few paperwork. I obtained the top-end mannequin with 12GB RAM/256GB storage in Obsidian Midnight colourway.
At 8mm thick and weighing in at round 200 grams, the Nord 4 is not the lightest cellphone round, however OnePlus has accomplished a great job with the load distribution on this cellphone, making it straightforward to carry even throughout these lengthy cellphone calls or gaming classes.
The Nord 4 instantly stands out from the competitors with its metallic unibody design and dual-tone end. The digicam format has additionally been reworked to accommodate the metallic physique, with the vertical pill-shaped digicam format now giving strategy to a horizontal look that appears fairly neat and attention-grabbing.
The shiny a part of the again has a mirror-like end and provides the cellphone a premium really feel, but in addition makes it extra susceptible to fingerprints and smudges. On the plus aspect, regardless of having two massive digicam cutouts, the Nord 4 would not wobble or turn into unbalanced when positioned on a flat floor.
In the meantime, the amount rockers and energy button are actually on the appropriate aspect of the machine, whereas the left aspect has OnePlus’ iconic alert slider. The Nord 4 comes with an IR blaster, a USB 2.0 port, an in-display fingerprint scanner, stereo speaker setup, Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 6, NFC and an IP65 score for splash and mud resistance, which means it may well deal with gentle rain and splashes, however do not go swimming with it simply but.
Show and battery:
Nord 4 sports activities a 6.74-inch flat AMOLED show with minimal bezels and a screen-to-body ratio of 93.5%. It has a peak brightness of two,150 nits, which suggests the show stays readable even in direct daylight.
The AMOLED panel might be among the best in its class, with crisp and vibrant colors, making it preferrred for these binge-watching classes. The cellphone helps HDR, and I attempted taking part in just a few movies on YouTube to see how the show would carry out, and it is secure to say that the outcomes did not disappoint.
One show characteristic that may turn out to be useful throughout this monsoon season is OnePlus’ AquaTouch know-how, which ensures that you should utilize the Nord 4 in gentle rain or when utilizing the cellphone with moist fingers.
The one downside I’ve right here is that OnePlus hasn’t been very forthcoming in regards to the display screen safety it has used for the Nord 4’s show. There’s a plastic display screen protector pre-installed on the machine, however I might suggest getting a tempered glass put in to higher defend the show.
On the battery entrance, the Nord 4 will get a giant increase from its predecessor and packs a 5,500 mAh setup with assist for 100W SUPERVOOC quick charging, which takes the machine from 0-100% in round 30-35 minutes. The cellphone simply lasts over a day in regular use, and I received a constant screen-on time of round 6.5 to 7 hours.
Software program and AI:
The Nord 4 runs OnePlus’ personal Oxygen OS 14.1, based mostly on Android 14, and is promised no less than 4 years of OS upgrades and 6 years of safety patches, making it the OnePlus machine with the longest software program assist. Nord 4 has additionally obtained the TÜV SÜD Fluency 72 Month A score, which means it ought to work nicely for six years, no less than in idea.
My Nord 4 has already obtained the July safety patch replace, and with OnePlus’ historical past of well timed software program updates, I really feel assured about utilizing this machine in the long run. Nonetheless, we’ll simply need to take OnePlus at its phrase on the subject of the 6-year fluency declare.
Very like its youthful siblings, the Nord 4 comes with a little bit of bloatware preinstalled, together with some helpful apps like LinkedIn, Fb, Netflix and Microsoft 365, in addition to some fully pointless ones like Bubble Pop and Sweet Crush. The excellent news is that every one these apps are bundled in separate folders and may nonetheless be simply uninstalled.
Whereas OxygenOS on Nord stays ad-free, I seen that there are actually app strategies within the app tray, and clicking on them takes you to a third-party app retailer referred to as ‘App Picks’, and there’s additionally a screening web page referred to as ‘Safety Check’ that pops up after putting in new apps. App strategies may be turned off by merely disabling ‘World Search’ within the residence display screen settings, however these new modifications might be an indication of issues to come back.
On the plus aspect, the Nord 4 comes with loads of helpful AI options similar to AI Eraser (which may now take away folks with a single click on), Good Cutout and Auto Pixelate. I significantly just like the Auto Pixelate characteristic, which hides delicate data like contact and bank card particulars with one-tap.
OnePlus has additionally added a brand new characteristic inside the Recorder app referred to as AI Recording Abstract, which helps translate or summarise a recording. As well as, different AI options similar to Textual content Abstract and Textual content Translate are set to reach with a future replace.
All in all, OnePlus’ dedication to 4 years of OS updates and 6 years of safety patches makes the Nord 4 stand out because the cellphone with the very best software program assist within the sub- ₹30,000 worth section. Furthermore, OxygenOS remains to be one of many cleanest UIs round, with only a few bloatware apps, no advertisements and a few nifty AI options, however the addition of World Search and Safety Scan means that advertisements might quickly be a part of the consumer expertise, no less than on Nord gadgets.
Efficiency:
The Nord 4 runs on the highly effective Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset, which is subordinate to the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset however kind of on par with final yr’s top-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC.
By way of benchmarks, the Nord 4 scored 10,86,875 on Antutu, which is barely decrease for a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 machine, suggesting that OnePlus could also be delicate limiting efficiency, presumably to manage the thermals. On GeekBench 6, it received a single-core rating of 1,148 and a multi-core rating of three,572. Nonetheless, I did discover that the cellphone received slightly too sizzling to deal with whereas working benchmarks, nevertheless it additionally cooled down in a short time, properties of metallic I suppose.
By way of on a regular basis use, nonetheless, I had no issues with the Nord 4, whether or not searching the online, switching between apps and even streaming content material. I additionally actually like the brand new animations that OnePlus has used on this machine, which actually improve the consumer expertise.
Taking part in demanding video games similar to BGMI, Name of Obligation Cellular and Actual Racing 3 was additionally no downside, with no body drops or stuttering. Whereas the cellphone did often get slightly heat throughout prolonged gaming classes, it wasn’t one thing that pressured me to cease taking part in and there was no noticeable drop in efficiency.
Digital camera:
Spec-wise, the Nord 4 encompasses a twin digicam setup on the again, with a 50MP Sony LYT 600 main sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens. For selfies, there is a 16MP sensor on the entrance, which is claimed to get assist for an ‘AI Groupfie characteristic’ in a future replace.
The 50MP main sensor takes respectable photographs in good lighting situations, capturing loads of element and sustaining near-natural colors of each objects and human topics. It additionally manages to seize respectable highlights on the subject of sky photographs.
Nonetheless, the cellphone appears to battle with evening photographs, the place the lack of element is noticeable and OnePlus appears to overdo some colors to get a extra interesting picture. For instance, discover how ‘Bistro’ has been blown out of proportion within the picture under.
That is to not say it is a dangerous cellphone in low gentle, it is simply that OnePlus’ software program processing may have been slightly higher. In truth, I actually preferred the Nord 4’s night-time portraits, which, though the color stability was slightly off, nonetheless produced an general nice output.
To my shock, the ultra-wide-angle lens managed to take respectable wanting footage in daylight, however the lack of element and color consistency is straight away obvious while you swap to nighttime photographs.
As typical, you do not have to take my phrase for the digicam’s efficiency, you’ll be able to entry all of the uncooked pictures by way of the Google Drive hyperlink hooked up to this text.
Verdict:
Nord 4 is not the proper or flawless smartphone available on the market by any stretch of the creativeness, and there are only some apparent flaws, similar to the dearth of any disclosed show safety, heating points throughout benchmarks and common cameras.
Nonetheless, the Nord 4 is a typical OnePlus cellphone in that it might not be a transparent winner in a single section, however it’s nonetheless a wonderful general package deal for its section. For instance, it isn’t essentially the most highly effective cellphone beneath ₹30,000, that will be the Poco F6. It is not one of the best digicam cellphone both, that will most likely be the Realme 12 Professional+ or Vivo V30e. However while you take a look at the mixed package deal, there are few gadgets that may match the OnePlus Nord 4 with its large 5,500 mAh battery, quick charging, comparatively clear UI, lengthy software program assist and distinctive metallic dual-tone design.
Execs | Cons |
Nice show | No disclosed safety for show |
Huge 5,500 mAh battery with 100W quick charging | Will get sizzling throughout benchmarks |
Distinctive Metallic unibody design with twin tone end | Common cameras |
IP 65 score | |
6 years of software program assist |
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Revealed: 18 Jul 2024, 10:54 PM IST